A married couple have been left “incensed” after losing their personalised car number plate, an ode to their favourite football team, after almost three decades. The plate has been revoked as the DVLA deemed the licence plate “potentially offensive”.
John and Jackie Cooke, from North Bristol, are die-hard fans of League One team Bristol Rovers, and have proudly displayed the car number plate ‘N14 GAS’ since 1997, symbolising ‘Number one for the Gas’, a nod to the team’s nickname.
The couple claim the number plate was in fact originally recommended to them by staff at the DVLA when they first picked it. However, 27 years later, the same agency has revoked the number plate, after it was flagged as potentially being interpreted as a racial slur.
The Cookes received a letter from the DVLA not long before Christmas, which has been seen by BristolLive, and states: “The vehicle registration number has been brought to our attention as being potentially offensive.
“By law, the Secretary of State can revoke the right to display a vehicle registration number, if it appears to him that there are special reasons for doing so. Given the potentially offensive nature of this vehicle registration number, a decision has been taken to withdraw it from use.”
Jackie expressed her frustration, saying: “In 27 years, no-one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive. In fact, we can’t see how it can possibly be offensive.
Bristol Rovers fans Jackie and John Cooke have had this number plate since 1997 – it symbolises ‘Number one for the Gas’, the Gas being the football club’s nickname
(Image: Jackie and John Cooke)
“I have asked the DVLA to explain why it is offensive, but as yet haven’t received a reply. The DVLA removed ‘N14GAS’ from the GOV website on Dec 4, before informing my husband, who is the registered keeper, so that must be an offence in itself.”
“Our car registration was changed back to the original registration number, which we were totally unaware of, as the letter from the DVLA only arrived late in the day on Dec 7.”
The DVLA letter went on to explain the couple’s replacement registration number, and how they now need to contact their insurance company to notify them of the change, and get the new number plate fitted as soon as possible.
The letter continues: “Before a new range of registration numbers are issued or are made available under the Personalised Registration scheme, DVLA tries to identify combinations that may cause offence.
“On occasions where the Agency is made aware that a potentially offensive registration number has been released in error, steps are immediately taken to withdraw it. I realise that the decision to withdraw this registration number will be disappointing to you.
“However, the Agency adopts a clear policy of withdrawing potentially offensive registration numbers, either from normal issue or from its sales scheme. Such marks are withdrawn if they are likely to cause offence or embarrassment to the general population in this country on the grounds of political, racial, and religious sensitivities, or simply because they are in poor taste.”
A general view of the Memorial Stadium, home of Bristol Rovers
(Image: James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
The DVLA informed John and Jackie that they could select a new registration plate valued at £250, the price they originally paid back in 1997.
Jackie explained: “We still have the receipt, no mention is made of inflation. We are incensed that we are to lose our treasured car registration and it is seriously affecting our mental health.”
The couple was offered an alternative number plate, ‘JJ64 GAS’, on December 17, which they accepted as a temporary solution while they hopefully await the reinstatement of their original plate.
Jackie also mentioned a recent conversation with her local MP, who suggested that their registration number might be misinterpreted as an offensive term.